Strengthening the foundation of our schools
The foundation of Whitefish schools is strong and continues to grow. It is such a pleasure to be surrounded by motivated students who get their inspiration from our teachers and staff.
I wanted to point out just a few examples of why our schools are so special. These are the building blocks that will nurture the future of our community.
Our visual arts programs are astounding! I am always amazed when I walk through our middle school to see the new creations that Nanette Reed helps students create. The pottery program taught by Tim Bonds at the high school is a unique learning opportunity for students. Stop by the front lobby of our new high school to see the outstanding creativity and skill displayed by our visual arts students in the classes of Lonnie Collinsworth and Tim Bonds.
Students in our award-winning ProStart Restaurant Management Team and culinary program at the high school, facilitated by teacher Amanda Matdies, have helped cook appetizers served at intermissions at the Performing Arts Center as well as a retiree luncheon. They will also assist with hosting a Rotary Club luncheon at the high school in May.
Our students are also traveling to Texas and Tennessee to represent Whitefish in student competitions. Two of the students on the ProStart team will travel to Dallas for the national competition after receiving first place in the state-level competition last month. Ten students also qualified for the international DECA competition and will compete in business and entrepreneurship skills in Nashville with DECA Advisor Nadine Ross.
We have students interning at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, developing high-value technical skills at this critical juncture in their life. These students work closely with Performing Arts Center Manager David Pickeral and Resident Production Technician Micah Groschupf.
Middle school students have the opportunity to create, invent, and learn with a new MakerSpace designed and coordinated by library media specialist Dana Carmichael. The MakerSpace is a place with tools and gadgets where students and adults share knowledge, ideas and creativity to design, invent, and learn.
A coding club advised by Keith Meehan and Mike Caldwell at the middle school is giving young minds access to modern skills and changing the way they think about gaming and computers. Coding is starting early as students learn skills with Gary Carmichael at Muldown Elementary School.
This summer, students entering grades first through sixth will have an opportunity to participate in Camp Invention, a one week summer camp locally directed by Muldown teacher Sarah Akey. Camp Invention was created by the National Inventors Hall of Fame and partners with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
In addition to our supportive and engaged PTA and important volunteers, we implemented a program called Watch Dogs specifically to engage fathers as volunteers and role models for our Muldown students. Our high school students are also mentoring younger students at Muldown, serving as role models to young children.
These are just a small sampling of the great things going on in Whitefish Public Schools.
As you may have heard, Whitefish schools will request a building reserve levy in a May 3 voter election. Please remember to vote in this important election. As a key building block of our community, we need to maintain our great schools so that our children and teachers will have a strong foundation to keep innovative programs thriving.
— Heather Davis Schmidt is Superintendent of Whitefish Schools